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Project 08S237 <br /> Seed Increase for Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology <br /> Progress Report for 1998 <br /> by Steve Parr <br /> INTRODUCTION <br /> Reclamation and revegetation efforts are being conducted by the Colorado Division of <br /> Minerals and Geology at numerous locations throughout the state, including Coal Basin <br /> near Redstone, Colorado. One material, Calamagrostis purpurascens, has been identified <br /> on the site as a potentially important reclamation species. It is a perennial, cool season <br /> bunch grass with slight rhizomatous tendencies. Because of its prevalence in the Coal <br /> Basin area, the project manager was interested in a seed increase of this material for <br /> revegetating some steep 1:1 slopes. <br /> OBJECTIVE <br /> The main goals of the project include developing cultural technology for seed increase of <br /> the species and providing seed of the grown material to Colorado Division of Minerals <br /> and Geology for revegetation of Coal Basin. If initial success is good, an expanded seed <br /> increase effort could be initiated. There is also interest in the possible release of this <br /> species for high altitude revegetation. <br /> METHODS <br /> Seed Cleaning <br /> After initial correspondence in March and early April of 1998, an agreement to increase <br /> seed of the species was made. Seed which had been collected by the Colorado Division of <br /> Minerals and Geology was received by the UCEPC. On the 16th of April, 4.2 pounds of <br /> clean seed resulted from the entire collection. This seed was cleaned at two separate levels <br /> of purity. After one day's cleaning, only 1.2 pounds had been cleaned adequately enough <br /> to allow seed to flow through a mechanical drill for seeding. Concerns about how practical <br /> the project was if cleaning the seed to allow it to pass through a drill was absolutely <br /> necessary. After inquiries on how the seed from an increase effort was going to be <br /> seeded, it was determined that the seed need not be cleaned so thoroughly. The increase <br /> seed would be broadcast rather than drilled. The second lot had 3.0 pounds of cleaned <br /> seed in it, but with more callus hairs and seed coverings than the lot with 1.2 pounds in it <br /> (drill ready). <br />